We don’t usually think of shaking as something we choose.
We tremble when we are frightened.
Our hands might shake when we are nervous.
We shiver when we are cold.
But what happens when we deliberately give the body an opportunity to shake?
This is part of what we explore through TRE exercises, also known as Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE®).
TRE is a series of physical exercises developed by Dr David Berceli that are designed to evoke what TRE describes as neurogenic tremors — involuntary shaking or trembling that can occur as the body relaxes.
For me, TRE is a simple somatic tool that can support regulation and stress management. I have seen many people feel better after practising it, often in their own words.
At the same time, I have also learnt that TRE is not necessarily about *more*.
In fact, sometimes less is more.
When more isn’t better
During my own TRE training, I was eager to complete my process and my journals. I became quite focused to complete everything, so I started practising TRE every day.
Instead of feeling increasingly regulated, I noticed myself becoming more angsty. I started experiencing jitters throughout the day — something that wasn’t usual for me.
Eventually, I decided to stop TRE for a week and see what happened.
Gradually, my body settled. I felt more like myself again and returned to my usual window of resilience and tolerance.
That experience taught me something important:
**Even something that is good for us can become too much.**
I sometimes think about this like food.
Fruits and vegetables are generally good for us, but it doesn’t mean that eating only fruits and vegetables is necessarily healthy. Our bodies need variety, balance and enough of the right things at the right time.
TRE is no different.
It can be a wonderful tool. But the question is also: How much? How often? And is this what my Bodymind needs right now?
What is happening when we shake?
Within the TRE framework, these involuntary tremors are described as **neurogenic tremors** and are understood as a form of discharge.
In TRE, discharge does not necessarily mean only shaking. People may also notice other bodily responses such as burping, farting, yawning, crying, laughing, coughing, changes in temperature or other spontaneous movements and sensations. Within the TRE model, these responses can support the body in settling and reorganising after stress.
I think it is useful, however, to distinguish between the “TRE model” and what research has established. Research into TRE is still developing. A recent 2026 scoping review identified 22 studies and found promising preliminary findings in areas including stress, mood and anxiety-related sleep difficulties, while also noting that the existing studies vary in quality and that more research is needed.
So I wouldn’t describe TRE as a scientifically proven way to “release trauma from the body.”
I see it more simply:
TRE can be a useful embodied practice that gives people another way to support their regulation.
TRE is not simply “shake your trauma out”
This is perhaps one of the biggest misconceptions I would like to address.
When people hear that trauma can affect the body, it can be tempting to think:
*If I have trauma, I just need to shake it out.*
But trauma work is rarely that simple.
When we experience something overwhelming, there may be different responses that were interrupted, thwarted or never had an opportunity to complete. There can be so much more to explore around protection, boundaries, connection, fear, anger, helplessness, grief and meaning.
TRE may support someone’s ability to regulate after the impact of stress or trauma.
But regulation is not necessarily the same thing as trauma processing.
I sometimes think of TRE as a macro tool.
It can give us a broader way of supporting the system.
Trauma psychotherapy, on the other hand, may allow us to zoom in on the micro details — the particular sensations, impulses, emotions, memories, relational experiences and protective responses that make up a person’s story.
That level of work can be much more nuanced.
And sometimes, when something specific emerges during TRE, that is where another therapeutic approach may be helpful.
When the body tells us to slow down
One of the things I pay attention to when facilitating TRE is not simply whether someone is trembling.
I am also interested in:
Are they present?
Can they notice what is happening in their body?
How are they relating to the experience?
Can they pause when they need to?
What happens before, during and after the tremoring?
Sometimes a person may become angry during the process.
I remember working with a client who experienced significant anger while doing TRE. Rather than continuing the tremoring simply because we were “doing TRE”, I paused the process and explored the anger through Somatic Experiencing.
What emerged was a need around boundaries and healthy aggression.
The tremoring wasn’t something that needed to be pushed through.
The person’s experience was more important.
This is why I tend to use TRE in a very gentle and titrated way, drawing from what I have learnt through Somatic Experiencing and NeuroAffective Touch.
Learning to listen to your body
The phrase *”listen to your body”* sounds simple.
But sometimes the simplest things are not the easiest.
For someone new to TRE, I may suggest keeping the tremoring portion of the practice relatively short — around 15 minutes or less — especially when they are practising on their own.
Over time, as someone becomes more familiar with TRE and more attuned to their own Bodymind, I hope they can gradually move away from simply following a timer and begin to notice the tempo of their own body.
When is enough, enough?
When do I want to pause?
Do I feel more present or less present?
Do I feel settled afterwards?
Am I able to return to my day?
These questions can become part of the practice.
In this sense, TRE is not only about tremoring.
It can also become an opportunity to develop a relationship with your body.
Does everyone need to learn TRE?
No.
And that’s okay.
I see TRE as one tool among many.
For someone experiencing the everyday stresses of life and looking for another tool for stress management, a group TRE session may be a lovely place to begin.
For someone who dissociates easily, has additional support needs, or feels uncomfortable in a group setting, I may suggest beginning with a one-to-one session instead.
And if someone has recently undergone surgery or experienced a significant physical injury and their doctor has advised them not to engage in movement, TRE would not be something I would encourage them to begin until they have been medically cleared.
Sometimes the question isn’t:
“Can I do TRE?”
but rather:
“What kind of support would help me do this well?”
A tool you can take with you
One of the reasons I continue to value TRE is its simplicity.
Once someone has learnt the exercises and developed enough awareness of their own responses, TRE can become something they can practise in their own time and at their own pace.
I often recommend it to people who are having difficulty sleeping and would like another tool to support their regulation.
It may not be the right intervention for everyone, and it isn’t intended to replace psychotherapy when deeper trauma work is needed.
But for many people, it can be a wonderfully accessible way of reconnecting with the body and giving themselves some space to settle.
For me, being regulated isn’t simply about being calm.
It is about being able to be myself.
A sense of homecoming.
Perhaps that is what I appreciate most about somatic practices like TRE: they give us another way of coming back to ourselves.
And if you’re curious about TRE, don’t be shy to try.
Sometimes, the body has its own way of telling us what it needs.
Curious about TRE?
If you’re curious about exploring TRE, I offer small-group TRE sessions at Soulmatics. Click here to learn more.
The sessions are gently guided, with space to notice and work with your own Bodymind rather than simply following the exercises mechanically.
If you feel you would benefit from more individualised support, I also offer one-to-one TRE sessions. Please get in touch at soulmatics.info@gmail.com or WhatsApp +65 8851 0439 to learn more.
Alternatively, you can read more about TRE services here.
About the writer
Dominica is the founder of Soulmatics and a body-oriented psychotherapist based in Singapore. She works with adults and young adults navigating trauma, anxiety, burnout, grief and relational challenges, integrating somatic psychotherapy with counselling to support each person’s therapeutic process in a way that honours the Bodymind. Outside the therapy room, she enjoys drawing and running. You can read more about her here.